Banff National Park

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Banff National Park (established 1885, 6641 km2) is Canada's first and most heavily visited NATIONAL PARK. Its eastern gate is located 111 km west of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains, and stretches 240 km along the eastern slope of the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. JASPER NATIONAL PARK lies at its northern boundary. Originally set aside to preserve sulphur hot springs for public use, Banff's blend of towering peaks and flower-strewn meadows makes it among Canada's most exhilarating holiday areas.

The largest CAVE system in Canada (Castleguard Cave) extends for 23 km below the COLUMBIA ICEFIELDS. The GLACIERS still clinging to upper mountain slopes have helped shape the park's landscape, creating numerous lakes, waterfalls and broad, U-shaped valleys. Forests of lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce and alpine fir soften the flanks of the mountains and are home to many large mammals, including moose, elk, BLACK BEAR and the awesome GRIZZLY BEAR - the park's most formidable resident. Bighorn sheep, mule deer and other wildlife can often be seen alongside park roads. In contrast, the small population of cougar and wolf are rarely seen.

Campgrounds, resorts, alpine and cross-country skiing, and 1100 km of hiking trails radiate from the BANFF town site. Over 4.5 million visitors come to the park each year.

Banff National Park Mountains
Banff National Park Mountains
Banff's blend of towering peaks and flower-strewn meadows makes it among Canada's most exhilarating holiday areas (Corel Professional Photos).
Hot Springs Pool
Hot Springs Pool
Banff, Alberta, in the late 1880s (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/PA-25059).
Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake
Glacial Peyto Lake in Banff National Park (courtesy Corel Professional Photos).

Author MAXWELL W. FINKELSTEIN


Links to Other Sites
Banff National Park of Canada
This illustrated Parks Canada website describes the ecology, geography, and history of Banff National Park.

Cave and Basin
This illustrated Parks Canada website focuses on the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada.

The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
View an online collection of art and artifacts that represent the natural and cultural heritage of the Canadian Rockies and other mountains.

Banff Lake Louise Tourism
The official visitor information website for the communities of Banff and Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

Explore Rockies
A travel website for various scenic tours in and around Lake Louise, Banff, Lake Minnewanka, Jasper, and the Columbia Icefield. From Brewster Inc.

Canadian Rockies
A tourist guide to major attractions in the Canadain Rockies. From concierge.com.

Bear 71
"Bear 71" offers an interactive close-up tour of Banff National Park narrated by a female grizzly bear. From the National Film Board of Canada.

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